With her beautiful bone structure and those expressive eyes, Valerie Harper remains one of the only actresses in television history to consistently carry off those head scarves.
And yet under her influence, thousands of people wore them. And they didn't suit them. I lived in Ulster when Brigitte Bardot was famous for a couple of years. All the pretty mousy haired girls died blonde and wore microskirts. They looked dreadful.
When I first watched this show, I got a kick out of it because I was born in The Bronx and it was nice hearing NY accents. But I am getting annoyed with the insecurities of Rhoda and Brenda. Somehow, I can tolerate Brenda more. The way Rhoda treated Joe was disgusting. I’m surprised that he didn’t walk out sooner. Despite saying this, I loved Valerie Harper. She was a great actress and such a brave and strong woman in her battle with Cancer. May She Rest In Peace.
I love Rhoda but she's wrong here. You have to give clients what they want - especially if you're self-employed. She wasn't thinking about the client's target audience at all. Bad move Rhoda.
Its all to show the femiinism of the times. That she wanted to do things her way. as an artist and not sell out. but...it came off as Rhoda being difficult instead. Had she been single. she would not have the luxury to give up the gig so the whole poiint is moot
I completely agree! One thing Rhoda didn't consider, it is a MAN'S clothing store. I guarantee you, that any man going to buy a tuxedo, just wants to see the tux, on a dummy, that is HIS size. When men shop, they do not shop, they already know what they want, they go in, they buy and they leave. I bet not ONE of them even looks at the windows, except to make sure it IS a tuxedo store, by looking at the four dummies, in the window, wearing tuxedos.
@@oldyellerschannel4676That's pretty much how I shop, too! I'd love to see Rhoda add some creativity to online stores. It probably wouldn't boost sales but it might be a good laugh.
Let's take a moment to appreciate just how damned 70s all the designs are starting at 4:50. Looks like the same formal shop where all the kids in the movie Carrie went for their prom clothes.
I'm only 2 minutes in and Rhoda is on my last nerve. Why shouldn't Joe be able to watch TV and eat chips?? Rhoda can go work in the bedroom. Also, twice recently, Rhoda put others in front of her husband when they had plans. People gripe a lot about Joe in comments under the various episodes. I don't see how they are missing what Rhoda does that is not good for the marriage. (Today's date is October 16, 2016.)
She did say to him "forgive me, Joe, you should be able to eat chips in your own living room"...she's stressing big-time and wallowing in self-doubt and pity. She admits to her insecurities. Joe admits that it drives him crazy when she behaves this way...he's actually being tolerant and kind to her in this episode. I think they are actually showing in this episode that Rhoda knows she's not perfect - she's only human. She's so nervous she ruins her meeting with the stop owner...Sometimes she's a jerk, sometimes Joe's a jerk...you know, like real life. In Season 2, there are several moments when she acknowledges her insecurities, and she knows her Mom's hyper criticisms are to blame
Yes. Ergo the eating problem Brenda and Rhoda have. Never noticed it but Rhoda is kind of a ball buster. Why can't she go use one of those fancy nook rooms they have in that apartment for an office or a man cave.
KatieLL Yep, I felt the same way too that she should have simply gone into the bedroom. It's not like they live in a studio. Reminds me of All In The Family when Mike used to study in the dining room and complain that everyone was too loud. But all he had to do was go upstairs.
Kim Prieto Joe hit the nail on the head when she asked for his thoughts & he said, "No matter what I say, it won't be enough." Very true. She constantly begs for reassurance of his love or reassurance that she's good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, etc but it's never enough to raise her self-esteem for long. I see why down the road Joe preferred to only be in a relationship with her but not be married anymore to her. As I said elsewhere, she needed counseling badly & being her husband had to have been exhausting mentally. (And yes, I know & acknowledge that Joe had many flaws too.)
I think Rhoda is meant to be more and more like her mother. Brenda is getting there to!!Remember it's a comedy! If Joe had stayed, he would have ended up having to respond to Rhoda, like Martin deals with Ida ... Really brilliant story writing!
Rhoda needs to do the windows the way the client wants - He's paying for it and the client knows how he wants the windows. The windows are the client's. And how the windows are done effects his business - he has to live with them. So he gets to decide and has the last word. Rhoda needs to butt out. She takes it too personal.
@spirals 73 Its a tricky thing. being an artist. Yes she should have just did the windiw.plain. because she hadnt really made a name for herself yet. if she was kinda more fampus in her world. she woukdnt ever bother with a gig like that and keep cteative control.Taking that gig In the meantime. she could have used the extra money to build her brand up The top designers always use their own ideas but at what point does this happen. its a kinda thing that isnt quite defined. The top people make alot of doe so iit can be a lucritive field
Speaking as an artist, Clients have their own ideas, their own vision and style for their business and it is their business and if it's a long successful chain the owner obviously knows what works, so you need to give them what they want. Had this been real I would say the whole vaseline, gauze idea is not appealing to a mostly male targeted business and a misty window would not showcase the suits clearly and that's what they are selling. Guys who are renting a tuxedo are not interested in bells and whistles and teenage girl fantasy scenarios, they want to look good in a suit.
@@annasantostefano6826 Surely they would have discussed what the client wanted in the initial meeting? And Rhoda would have got a feel for the clients personality and should have known that, whatever the ideas she came up with, he wasn't going to negotiate. In this case he knew what he wanted because he knew what worked for his store...
This episode shows Rhoda looking like a addict or something. The rage over someone not liking her fadish designs instead of just taking the money and being creative on the next job. wow. she's tearing apart her own marriage. I didn't notice this the first time around. She's growing shrill and immovable.
No, that was Rhoda. She was pushy, abrasive and sometimes obnoxious on the MTM show. This was balanced off with Mary Richards, so the two made a great pair.
Maybe that's the value of the series. What was necessary then to burst the bubble looks annoying now because we've all moved on. Thanks to the series. The truth is, if you stick your head above the parapet, you get it shot off - by your own side!
They would not make a lead woman character this self doubting today. But it was appropriate for the time - the first generation of women choosing to pursue their dreams. Similarly I used to think Woody Allen was a hilarious comic genius. Now I watch his films and he's soooooo annoying. The narcissism and selfishness and neuroses! I can't imagine why women would have anything to do with him after a couple of weeks.
$450 a month is $2, 137.49 in our money now. DO THE WINDOWS THE WAY THE CUSTOMER WANTS!!!! The rent for their apartment is $310 (if memory serves me right) they could pay for their rent and most of their food bill. Why is she making a big case out of this. The worse part is that she goes back and says she will do the job and after he agrees she goes back to the stupid idea that she had originally. Rhoda is the stupidest person that ever lived.
I have been watching seasons 1 and 2 of this show, and I feel so bad for Joe. He is surrounded by crazy, insecure women (Rhoda and Brenda) and a pushy mother-in-law. He tries to be calm and supportive, but it does not help. No wonder there are times he losses his temper.
😂Takes one to know one they say... so look in the mirror you "crazy, insecure" woman. I am *SO* glad the actor was fired. And yes, he was fired. This is a sit-com you *stupid* female, not rocket science!
Rhoda's idea for the windows is stupid. She's designing a window for women, not for men. Men want to see tuxedos in the window and that's it. They don't want to be sold a Harlequin Romance. They want to rent a tux. The shop-keeper knows his clients. And if her idea made so much sense, she should be able to say to the shop-owner, 'Here's why my vision of the windows will bring in more customers and get you more business.' She can't do that - so she can't sell her idea. She's not even thinking about what the shop-keeper's aims are. He's not in it to give her a place to exercise her creativity or be an 'artist.' He's in business to get more business. She never asked a single question about his business or his customers and what his customers were looking for.
Figaro Hey! True that's business she wasn't open to compromising her vision.... when your self employed you've got to listen to what your customer wants. come on 4 dummies two tall two short end of story. I love RhodA but she's wrong this time.
As I watch this now years later , Rhoda does come off as needy and whiny. Too bad the producers should have began her series as a single girl and then eventually have her marry joe once she evolved ....
Actually they did do just that, having her as a single girl in Minneapolis with Mary Tyler Moore on her show, she evolved to marriage with Joe in her own show. So, you were spot on!!
I think sellout is the wrong word. She lost out because she had to have things her way instead of working with what the client wanted. She should have taken the job for the money since they've had money problems before. She could always do something more creative for another client.
I agree. Rhoda is offered payment to do the job the way the store owner wanted. A male friend was trained as a chef. A job he pulled was in a sandwich shop. All he had to do was make up sandeiches for the lunch crowd. He decided to make up the sandwiches in triangles with fancy toothpicks etc. The owner informed him just make the sandwiches as asked as the people buying was not interested in anything but eating the sandwiches not how cute they looked. He was exhausted as he could not do it his way...he wasn't fired but quit saying it was too stressful as he did not want to serve the sandwiches plain... Siggghhh...
In this episode she is acting like her mother, controlling and has to have her way, add to that an exhausting level of insecurity and you have a recipe for a future ex wife :P
Rhoda acts like her job is rocket science. She was like a different person on Mary's sitcom. On her own show, she is often whiney, demanding, neurotic, and is very insecure and has low self-esteem. The latter gets tiresome. I watched every episode new, during my teens. The show is funny, especially when the eps focus on Brenda.
No it is not rocket science but have you ever had a big project do for your work? And a lot of jobs there's a lot of pressure to make things perfect. I think she is just venting here and who doesn't need an opportunity to do that from time to time
Rhoda and her sister Brenda are beautiful woman, but they were so very insecure always talking about their weight which neither were fat and they"re looks. Rhoda marriage fell to me because she was either too hard on herself or she was insensitive to her husband needs. Joe had his issues too but he really tried to deal with Rhoda insecurities and selfishness. What Rhoda had with Joe was nice. .
Zettie Joseph People can relate to insecurity and failure better. Success is not very funny. Very early on the producers decided that Rhoda was funnier as a single woman so they planned a divorce.
Yes! The outside shot is from a NYC street when they are occasionally on location, and the inside shot is inside a Hollywood shop or film set...funny in real time on TV we never notice these things, but on our computers, and the ability to rewind, closely paying attention, we notice every detail!
I love Rhoda. Great actress. Val harper reminds me so much of Lucy I can see the influence. but when she pretends to draw she doesnt do it quite right She just scribbles fast but its not convincing Im surprised since she has all the mannerisms and movements down so smooth. She makes it all look so real
It's interesting how many people are surprised at Rhoda in this episode. To me it figures! It's just a frothy little sitcom but there's some interesting truth here. Like most best comedies the star is not a winner. Rhoda has low self esteem and is insecure right from the atart of Season One......after all she comes from a family whose matriarch is domineering, demanding perfection and vacuums to cope with her own anxiety. Rhoda's sister comfort eats and has even lower self esteem. It's totally believable then that Rhoda shows that she is damaged too. She started out this show in her early thirties, unemployed in New York and staying at her mother's!! Now she fears that she can't be successful with her creative ideas which after all are meant to be the core of her business's success. Good writing!! It all adds up. Yeahhhh I'm over-analysing. But I like losers in sitcoms. :) Rhoda's got hangups and makes mistakes.....hooray!!, like the rest of us!!!
I agree with mother of two below. Joe was so cute. I don't know how he tolerated Rhoda as long as he did, she acted like a psycho in this ep. As for her line of work, Rhoda sometimes acts like she is a rocket scientist. On the Bob Newhart Show, Suzanne Pleschette was a teacher who had to create lesson plans, and Bob watched sports on tv. They never argued. I never understood why Rhoda and Brenda had such bad self-esteem. They both were overly sensitive and needed therapy. They were both pretty and smart.That older grouchy man, and the young guy with curly hair had been on other TV shows. Never heard of a burglar stealing laundry.
Why wouldn't she have him partner with a formal dress shop and combine the window dressing? Then she could get their account too. Showcase all of their products beautifully. Then mention a flower shop and get some flowers shown off too. Yer welcome, Rhoda!
That young guy who Rhoda called cute at the clothing store was a guest on The Walton's, the genius college boy who talked like Data from Star Trek. He was a walking/ talking chemistry book in that episode, LOL
A Big Mistake to write Joe out. He was not a push over, a man's man, Rhoda wanted to be a liberated independent woman even with all her insecurities. A baby would have created all kinds of issues, comic & serious, between them. Apparently the writers thought Rhoda was "less edgy" as a married woman but that was not true! She Lost her edge when she had no one to fight with! How popular with viewers was Joe? Why did the hairdresser on the show keep giving Valerie Harper that fringe style? Rhoda's Client was in the original 'The Taking of Pelham 123'. Been ticking off the actors who appeared in 'Lou Grant' too.
I always wondered why I did not like this show, her character was whiny and selfish, she could have gone in the bedroom to “think” .....I was just a kid, and had no idea, where characters like this were leading young women, to go... Not a good place if, they were all like this!
I'm actually surprised Rhoda did as well as she did, she seemed to miss the point of the customer is right and pushed her ideals . I love the show but unfortunately each time I re-watch the series the more Rhoda comes off as irrational, unable to compromise, whiny, very low self esteem. Joe said it "your pride is involved too much," but it wasn't so much pride as it was an unwillingness to see another's point of view. I can now honestly see why Joe wanted out, Rhoda, I love ya but you're too high maintenance.
There is so much truth in what you said. I recalled an episode on MTM where she was always knocking herself down and always wishing to find the right man but settled for less. One time she admitted to Mary she had dated Ted Baxter and Mary was shocked! LOL Rhoda wouldn't have said to Mary but she slipped and told her. It was one of the funniest scenes ever.
Rhoda is lovely, but for any man who's dated or been married to an insecure woman, this behavior is the exact thing that will drive him to another woman. It's cute at first, but quickly becomes insanity.
Where exactly do you see the insecurity in her> Is it the part where she throws herself on the sofa and downs herself. I always thought that was a sense of humor, but I see too many people do it. Where would it drive you crazy? Please reply. I am considering dating next year. Please reply
I just saw a list with photos of the all time most beautiful women . All actresses on Google. I think Rhoda should have been on the list. Someof the actresses were plain or unattractive. They included Elizabeth Taylor but the photo was awful of her . They forgot Natalie Wood. I only agreed with about 4 of them. Go have alook for grins .
Rhoda's insecurities were kinda cute and even endearing on MTM, but here, it's like get over yourself already. It's actually very annoying and I feel badly for her husband.
This episode bothered me. With the theme of this show being an independent woman why the hell would someone put up with a potential boss who was borderline verbally abusive. That man was a jackass and she groveled like a pathetic person for his windows??? Ridiculous!
As a Boomer who was privileged to have seen this series first run, I get what the writers are going for here. They had their liberal agenda and were trying to beat the drum for Women's Rights, no problem. But, this was a swing and a miss! I ran my own business in northern Europe for over 20 years. The one rule all business owners must follow is The Customer is ALWAYS RIGHT! A business owner's vision and artistic perspective mean exactly nothing in the real world. Grow up 'Rhoda'.
The client is paying the bill, so why should he not get the windows he wants? It is not up to Rhoda to impose her taste on the client. She is not listening. A major mistake. I see no issue with giving the client the windows he wants. Anything else is arrogant, and counter-productive. You cannot buy groceries with pride.
I'd get up and leave that maniac of a woman - for good. This show is awful. I usually love it, but too much is too much. Who could possibly put up with this? Were they running out of ideas for the show and turn Rhoda into a hysterical shrew?
Love Rhoda - Valerie but. WORST THEME SONG EVER!! AND What is wrong with her in this episode? I’m only a few minutes in and I already can’t stand her attitude. Go work in the bedroom, go for a walk, but stop beaking off at Joe because he wants to watch TV in his living room and eat potato chips. Wow. What were they thinking when they wrote this.
I think I just figured out why they have children singing theme song…Rhoda has never grown up. She becomes more immature, whiny, and insecure as the seasons progress..😂😂😂
